Jamesazzopardi

When ski season begins, many venture north where destinations have a greater likelihood of experiencing colder weather and larger amounts of snowfall. Canada is one of these locations, and cheap flights to Vancouver offer visitors the opportunity of enjoying a ski season that often lasts from November through May.

Whistler

Having hosted the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic competitions, many consider the Whistler Blackcomb area as the top ski destination on the North American continent. The annual snowfall amounts easily surpass 30 feet (nine meters). The location features 432,000 acres of skiing on over 400 different runs. Whistler Mountain stands 7,160 feet (2,182 meters) in height and has a vertical drop of 5,020 feet (1,530 meters). Blackcomb Mountain rises 7,499 feet (2,289 meters) to its peak and boasts a vertical drop of 5,280 feet (1,609 meters). The facility provides 37 lifts consisting of high-speed gondolas and quads, along with chairs and surface lifts.

Banff

Situated at an elevation of 7,082 feet (2,159 meters) on the Continental Divide, many consider Sunshine Village Ski and Snowboard Resort as one of the top ski destinations in the country. Located in Banff National Park, the resort opens sometime around the first week of November and remains open until about the third week in May. The destination features three mountains that have five bowls, and a vertical drop of 3,280 feet (1,000 meters). Skiers and snowboarders have 3,300 acres upon which to learn or hone winter sport skills. The facility offers 12 different lifts that include nine super lifts, one high-speed gondola and the Strawberry Express high-speed quad lift.

Fernie

Located on the southeastern corner of the British Columbia Rockies, Fernie Ski Resort boasts over 2,500 acres of skiing and snowboarding terrain. Open from December to mid April, the resort commonly has over 35 feet (10 meters) of natural fresh powder. The 7,050 foot (2,149 meter) tall mountain offers five large bowls for visitor’s skiing pleasure. The destination has 142 open runs with many more that traverse downward through the pines. The number of runs is fairly divided between beginner, intermediate and advanced trails.

Apex

Winter sports enthusiasts often book cheap flights to Vancouver, and fly onto Penticton Regional Airport, for the opportunity of skiing or snowboarding in the scenic Okanagan Valley. This location receives on average 19 feet (5.7 meters) of snow every year. The facility has 67 trails of which 48 percent are designed for intermediate skiers and 36 percent are preferred by skiers and snowboarders having advanced skills. Some of the many varieties of lifts take skiers to the 7,200-foot (2,195 meter) summit.

Tremblant

Mont Tremblant rises 2,871 feet (875 meters) toward the sky and has a vertical drop on the South side spanning 2,116 feet (645 meters). Though not as tall as other Canadian mountains, Mont Tremblant conveniently lies only 90 minutes from Montreal and offers 49 miles of skiing pleasure. The resort consists of 654 acres that have 95 runs, half of which regularly provide excitement for advanced skiers. The popular ski resort becomes a bustling community during ski and snowboarding season and receives an average of 13 feet (four meters) of snow annually.